Timely Analysis Impacted by USDA Decision

Published July 12, 2018

After August 1, USDA will no longer provide pre-report access to select media outlets. USDA described this as move to equal access. DTN/Progressive Farmer editor-in-chief Greg Horstmeier says that may sound good in theory, but that reality could be entirely different. “My biggest concern for farmers is they will be way behind now in their ability to get their hands around what the report actually means. Getting the data is one thing; figuring out what it means is the hard part.” Despite the change in access, Horstmeier emphasized the agriculture and business media will do its best to provide information to farmers.